Wichita eagle., 1887-05-26


depend, Mrs Farmer. So be warned, you
and Miss Babyface!'
He turned away, and I waited until
he had disappeared amongst the other
passengers. Then I came aft again, and
at once perceived that something had
happened to Miss Katie and Mr.. Neville.
There was q shyness In her manner, and
a sort of proprietary, proud like look In
his face. which convinced me that he had
been saying something sentimental, and
she showed she understood it.
But they must not be engaged The
threat of Gideon Grasper had been too
significant. I would have interfered had
not the boat stopped at our landing place.
We went ashore. Gideon Grasper was
not there. began to breathe more freely.
We went to the hotel all together; and
when we reached Miss katle's room, she
turned and said:
'sMrs. Farmer, think it only right to
tell YOU, who have always been so good to
me, that Full mean Mr. Fulcher New
lille has proposed to me, and 1 have told
him that
"You promised Gideon Grasper a year
or so ago." whispered.
Mrs. Farmer, you are unkind-
Tuuc. UOlU ANCtlAC tuac Ia ~
held to his opinion in three months,
would become engaged to him-f dldn
change my mind,'' she added with
laugh.
Miss Kate, excuse me; I'm an elderly
woman-leastways, married woman
and a mother Take my advice-don' t
lead him on too far Do make up your
mind. Remember Grasper; he is almost
desperate"
81 et him be wholly desperate, then, "
myself at all. Mr.. Grasper, indeedn'
HE Is a determined man, MISS"
ventured.
$50 am l a determined woman, Lucy
if l may call you sol defy Gideon
Grasper and all his works. l shall do
as please.'
After awhile we reached our destina-
ton; and to this day l am not certain
whether the place was in the Tyrol or
Swissland l say "was"-not is-for not
a vestige of the village remains to tell the
tale which I know to be so true. Zwei-
bergthM was tho place, and there are two
mountains, ono on each side OF it, fine,
rugged, snow clad, fir fringed mountains,
much bigger than our country's hills, but
not so green and rounded
We found Miss Katie's relations living
on what they call pension, though the
family are well OF, too; and what the
''pension" is for I can't say. Mr.. and
Miss Neville also came to the same board
ing house, and need hardly tell you that
they were falling fast into love. 1t was
as plain Is possible. He was . pleasant,
well spoken gentleman, and Miss Kate
was as charming, and, l must say, ms
careless as over.
One day she and had assembled a little
way up ono of the Zweibergs-I can't tell
their real names: something about a
stock" We had climbed up, alone, for
a wonder; and while l was resting, Miss
Katie went on little farther. She had
been gone some time when ! heard a
scream above me, and looking up saw
her running down, pursued by strange
man, who, as he came nearer, perceived
was Gideon Grasper.
He was excited and angry. He yelled
at her to halt, but she only ran the faster,
passing me without stopping. Gideon
saw me in bis way, and halted as held
out my arm to check him. He was glar-
ing like wild bull; the man was going
mad, believe.
''She shall never be his-neverr' he
screamed IF have to move the noun
tains to fall on her she shall die.''
Then he turned away toward the snow,
which lay thickly above us, glinting in
the hot sun.
Hot, indeed 1t was beautifully warm;
and to think of SO much heat near so
much snow was wonderful. l said rs
much to the man at the pension, who
spoke some English
Yes" said he; lit is hot, great deal
too bot for the time of year We don t
like it,
We do" said l.; ana off | walked,
thinking there was something odd in his
manner.
| found Miss Katie all of tremble.
Gideon had frightened her, and threat
ened her, but she was more than ever
determined to become engaged to Mr..
Neville. So when, three days afterward,
he suggested a little picnic to small hut
on the side of the mountain, where there
was a lovely view Of lake and q. fine
waterfall, she gladly asSented, and did all
she could to make up a pleasant party.
was to 80, and Mr.. AMI Miss Neville,
Miss Katie's cousins, too, and two Ger
man students. A guide and porter were
engaged TO show the way and to help any
one who wanted help, and to carry the
baskets. 1t was lovely, bright, warm
morning, perfectly still, not breath of
air stirring, only the hum Of insects or the
sound Of a COW bell could be heard: and,
as we proceeded, the roar OF cataract
from the melting snow field above US.
The guide and porter walked in front
by themselves chatting. Another man
some one in skins and bare knees, with a
high feathery hat-came behind by him.
self, as if watching US; but no one took
any notice of him. My only fear was
about Gideon Grasper, and for his inter-
ference. and Of something the landlord
had said about the snow falling
We reached the hut and had lunch
After lunch Miss Katie and Mr. Neville
rambled of and SO did l. Although we
took opposite directions, they soon came
round near me; and as sat in a dreamy,
wondering way, thinking of home, could
occasionally hear their voices.
Mr.. Neville was pleading hard. and Miss
Katie was yielding He seemed quite
satisfied, for I heard him say, Then,
dearest, You are miner in a loud voice,
when another voice in threatening tones
alarmed me. knew too well who it was
Gideon Grasper!
jumped up. There was the man in
the Tyrolese hat grasping his gun. That
man, then, was Gideon.
He was speaking sternly. firmly, but
without apparent anger. Every now and
then he glanced up the mountain in half
alarmed manner, Is If some presentiment
weighed upon him But soon approached,